“In this situation where there is obvious confusion as to the status of the down, play should have been stopped prior to the third down and the correct down communicated to both clubs,” said vice president of officiating, Dean Blandino. “This should have occurred regardless of the fact that Washington had no timeouts and it was inside two minutes.”

Washington’s pass play to Pierre Garcon on second down was inches short of a first down and was spotted as such. However, the sideline official indicated that it was third down and the chains were moved, indicating that it was first down.

Coach Mike Shanahan said he asked for a measurement, but was told he didn’t need it because it was first down. After the next play, an incomplete pass to Fred Davis, the Redskins were told it was fourth down. Garcon caught a fourth down pass, but it was stripped by the Giants’ Will Hill.

“Only the referee can rule and signal a first down,” Blandino explained in his statement. “The official nearest to the down markers and chain crew, the head linesman, must wait for the first down signal from the referee before moving the chains. Instant Replay did not become involved in this situation because the replay official determined that the ball on Garcon’s catch was correctly spotted short of the line to gain for a first down.”

Had the Redskins thought they were running a third-down play instead of a first-down play, the play call likely would have been different. But, there’s nothing to be done about it now. The Redskins are mathematically out of playoff reach and a disappointing season rolls on.